By: Hunter Boschert
On Feb. 4, 2017, Penn State University sophomore Tim Piazza died at the Hershey Medical Center from injuries sustained at a pledge event at the Beta Theta Pi fraternity house on Penn State’s campus according to an article published by The Atlantic magazine. Video surveillance recordings show that Piazza was provided with at least 18 alcoholic drinks in an 82-minute period by other fraternity brothers.
The article revealed that Piazza suffered a lacerated spleen, swollen abdomen, and multiple traumatic brain injuries after falling down a flight of stairs. Surveillance cameras captured fellow brothers punching, kicking, and then dumping water on Piazza to awaken him.
Phone records outline that nearly 12 hours after the fall, a 911 call was made from inside the house requesting medical assistance. After being transported to the hospital, Piazza was taken into surgery, but he died a few hours later.
Following the incident Penn State University’s Board of Trustees adopted new initiatives that would change how the school regulates its sororities and fraternities. The Alpha Upsilon chapter of Beta Theta Pi was suspended by both Penn State and its national organization immediately. The article reported that later the fraternity was officially banned from the university.
Events such as this change how Greek organizations interact and operate on college campuses across the United States. Some universities, like Indiana University, suspended all Greek activities for the remainder of the semester. This poses the questions, does Bellarmine have a strict enough hazing policy, and are the Greek organizations on campus proactive enough in preventing hazing during their recruitment process?
The Bellarmine student handbook has a hazing policy for student organizations. It states: “Bellarmine University insists on the complete and total elimination of any activity which either is or closely resembles hazing.” Organizations are responsible for the actions of their group members and it is the responsibility of the organization to check with the Assistant Director of Student Activities if they have questions regarding certain activities.
While some groups require “selective membership,” they must conduct activities that are only constructive, educational and inspirational during new member education. The handbook also gives the responsibility to report hazing to each and every individual. Groups and individuals will be charged and sanctioned under the Bellarmine University Code of Conduct.
Bellarmine fraternities and sororities also combat hazing by providing their executive board members with training and education. Madison Gingerich, Phi Mu’s membership director, said “Phi Mu is everywhere, and these hands don’t haze.”
Phi Mu’s national office is very involved with making sure that motto is at the forefront of all recruiting efforts. It is important to present hazing-free policies starting at the very beginning of the recruiting season and it seems that Bellarmine’s Greek organizations make it a top priority.
Alpha Delta Gamma’s public relations/rush chair, Brayden Guth, said hazing is something ADG takes very seriously. The fraternity’s local vice president of internal affairs supplies a presentation that covers “prevention, what to look for, and how to handle it if it comes up, of course which it never has in the past.” During its national conferences, the fraternity provides breakout sessions on hazing.
Greek organizations on campus go to great lengths to make sure hazing does not occur during their rush initiatives. Delta Sigma Pi President Angie Hancock said, “the local DSP has strict guidelines to promote a welcoming environment so recruits feel comfortable.”
While none of the Greek organizations on campus have reported hazing incidents in recent years, some of their fellow brothers on other campuses have, and they are putting forth a lot of effort to make sure hazing does not occur on our campus. It seems that Greek organization go to great lengths to make sure they promote hazing-free environments on campus.
It seems that Bellarmine’s policies and procedures and proactive Greek organizations on campus demand no hazing. Bellarmine has an impeccable track record when it come to hazing incidents.
It is everyone’s responsibility to be vigilant and speak up if hazing occurs. This respects personal dignity and the mission of the university.